Move in day stirs up mixed emotions

For several freshmen, their college journey began on New Student Move-in Day, on Saturday, Aug. 24. The campus was filled with students, their families and staff to ensure that the move in process went smoothly.

Emotions about the day were mixed. Undecided student Roan Moran, a freshman, who moved from Wethersfield, Conn., said the process was exciting, but living on campus will get some getting used to.

“It’s definitely weird,” said Moran. “I woke up this morning leaving the house and it’s still weird. It felt super weird.”

Moran, said he will be playing baseball at Southern and is most excited for the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

Nursing major Cori Richarson, a freshman, who moved to campus from Windsor, Conn., said the process was both exciting and nerve-wracking, but she was ready for it. She said she was looking forward to becoming an independent person and getting to hang out with her friends without her parents being around, but that was also what made her nervous.

“Them not being here, my parents–I’m so used to them being there all the time, with problems and stuff like that,” said Richardson.

According to President Joe Bertolino in his convocation speech, 95% of the new students are from Connecticut, so several of the freshman did not move far from home. Excercise science major Shane Bresnahan, a freshman, who moved from Wethersfield, Conn., said he likes that Southern is somewhat close home.

“It’s nice because if I ever need anything I can just ask my parents and go visit frequently if I wanted to,” said Bresnahan.

Compared to living at home, Bresnahan said the dorms would take some getting used to but he did not think the transition from living at home to campus would be too bad.

Though the dorms are not quite home, communication disorders major Emily Sosnovich, a freshman, who moved from Beacon Falls, Conn., said college is a chance to start over and find a new place.

“Just because it’s so new I think, it’s going to take some getting used to,” said Sonsnovich. “But it will be fun.”

While many freshmen said they were both excited and nervous to move in, graduate intern Kiana Smith, who was assisting with the process, said she thought the hardest part for them was asking for help.

“They’re kind of scared to come out of their shell and ask themselves and self- advocate, even like ‘Is there a bin?’ or ‘How do I get a bin?’ It’s mostly parents that are coming up to us rather than them,” said Smith. “So, I think they’re kind of shy, and I think that’s normal and they’re going to break it.”

While Smith said many of the freshmen appeared to be nervous throughout the process, she also saw a lot of excitement from the class of 2023.

“They’re so full of hope and inspiration and they’re our future, so I like watching them and how excited them and their family are, especially [the students],” said Smith. “I don’t know, just something about them, like they have this light in their eyes that not every class has.”